Fastening attachment for paper bags



April 18, 1933. 'r. M. ROYAL FASTENING ATTACHMENT FOR PAPER BAGS Filed 001;. 22, 1929 gwoenl oz Patented Apr. 18, 1933 THOMAS M. ROYAL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA FASTENING ATTACHMENT FOR PAPER. BAGS Application filed October 22, 1929 Serial No. 401,608.

In the closing of paper and similar bags, after they have been filled with commodlties which are adapted to be placed therein for distribution, it is customary to employ mechanical means or apparatus for such purpose. It is desirable that means be associated with the marginal portions of theof the bags which will not interopen ends the folding of the said ends to fere with close the same but which after folding \will' operate to maintain the closure. It is desirable also that such means be of a character to add to the strength of the bag and alse of a character such that its presence does not in any way disfigure or change the appearance of the bag.

The general object, therefore of the mvention is to provide means at the open end portion of a bag consisting of paper or other so suitable flexible material which is adapted to be folded in the closing of the bag and which fold will remain to maintain'the closure.

It also is an object of the invention to provide an attachment upon the marg nal portion of the open end of a bag comprising one or more wires of suitable materlal and of relatively small gauge secured upon the bag by means which operates to conceal the said wires and which cooperates with the wires in 0 retaining the normally open end of the bag closed after the folding of the same to efl'ect closure thereof. I

Dther objects and advantages of my invention will be pointed out in the detailed de- 5 scription thereof which follows or will be apparent therefrom.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its advantages from the view-point of practicability fully appreclated reference should be had to the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated certain constructions and arrangements embodying the said invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of one form of attachment which is adapted to be secured to either one or both sides of a bag at or in adjoining relation to the ,open end thereof Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the top portion of a bag showing the attachment 1].-

-equivalent sheet material, which maybe of' lustrated in Fig. 1 secured theretowith its upper edge spaced a short distance from the open top end of the bag;

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3- -3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view showing the top end portion of a bag provided with my invention and showing the same folded to effect closure thereof;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to that '60 shown in Fig. 2 but showing slightly modified constructions of the attachment;

Fig. 7 is a view showing still another slightly modified construction embodying the inventlon;

Fig. 8 is aview showing a still further modified construction with a portion of the sheet of the attachment which conceals the wires turned outwardly to expose the said wires; and v i Fig. 9 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

In the drawing I have shown at 1 ortions of bag structures which may be 0 the accordion type as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawing I have shown an attachment which is adapted to be secured to one or both sides of the marginal normally open top end of a bag. In the construction as illustrated the attachment is applied to but/one side of the marginal top .end'portion of the bag. The said attachment as shown in Figs. 1 to 7 comprises an inner or" base strip 2 of paper or any suitable or practical thickness which may be selected, and an outer strip 3, between which strips are located a plurality of sections of wire 4. In the construction as illus- 9o trated in Figs. 1 to 3 there are five of these 7 V wires, whereas in the constructions illustrated in Figs. .5 and 7 three are employed and in Fig. 6 two only are employed.

The metal of the wires 4 preferably should be tough. It is pliable or: bendable but is practically inelastic so that when the wires are bent in the folding of the top end portion of the bag as indicated at 5 in Fig. 4 to effect closure thereof theclosed relationship will be maintained. In the construction as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 the upper edge of the attachment is located or spaced a short distance from the open top end of the bag, as indicated at 6, so that the portion 6 in the operation of closing the bag is first folded down to overlie the top edge portion of the attaclnnent as shown in Fig. 4, after which a second fold is formed along the line 7, and as shown in Fig. 4, a final fold is formed at 8. The presence of the practically inelastic or non-resilient wires 4: which are embodied in the attachment operates to maintain the folds of the open end portion of a bag in folded relation to each other.

For the purpose of fastening or securing the strips 2 and 3 together and for retaining the wires at between the said strips any suitable adhesive may be employed, and likewise any suitable adhesive may be employed for fastening the base strip 2 of the attachment to a side wall of the bag in the positions as indicated in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7 of the drawing.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing I have shown a construction wherein five wires 4' are employed but the said construction differs from that illustrated in the previous figures in that the base strip 2 of said figures is omitted. The wires 4' of Figs. 8 and 9 are located between the paper or equivalent material of the adjoining side portion of a bag and a cover strip 3". The latter is secured to the bag over the wires by means of an adhesive of any suitable character. The operation and the functioning of the wires 4; in the construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 are identical with the operation and functioning of the corresponding wires shown in the preceding figures of the drawing. It will be understood that instead of employing five wires as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a smaller or greater number may be employed as may be desired and as will be suggested by reference to the preceding figures of the drawing.

It will be seen that by my invention I have provided a simple construction of means which will not interfere with the operations of machines or apparatus employed for forming the folds in the open end por tions of bags for the purpose of efiecting closure thereof, and also it will be seen that the means employed by me operates to retain the folds after their formation and thereby to maintain the bags so folded in closed position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A paper bag or other like container having an open end which is adapted to be closed by the folding of the open end portion of the said bag or other container, the said open end portion having means provided thereon for retaining the folds in folded relation to each other to maintain the closure of the bag, the said means comprising an attachment consisting of a multi-ply flexible strip having a plurality of wires held between plies of the said strip, the said wires adapted to be bent upon the folding of the end portion of the said bag to close the same and consisting of inelastic material whereby after having been bent in the folding of the end portion of the said bag they remain bent.

2. A paper bag or other like container having an open end which is adapted to be closed by folding the open end portion thereof, the said open end portion having means attached thereto which is adapted to maintain the said folds in folded relation to each other, the said means comprising a strip consisting of a plurality of sheets of paper secured together by means of a suitable adhesive and wires of small gauge located and held between the said sheets of paper, andtbe said strip being secured to a side of the said bag or other container upon the portion thereof in adjoining relation to the said open end.

3. A paper bag or other like container having an open end which is adapted to be closed by folding portions thereof including the edges of the said open end, the said bag having means whereby the said folds are retained in folded relation to each other to maintain the closure of the said bag, the said means comprising a plurality of bendable but inelastic wires, said wires extending in directions longitudinally of the said bag, and means for securing the said wires to a portion of the said bag in adjoining relation to the said open end thereof, said last named means comprising a multi-ply strip of paper of a width substantially equal to that of the bag between plies of which the said wires are located.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 18th day of October, 1929.

THOMAS M. ROYAL. 

